Two dead of gunshot wounds after poker party

NW Cable News ^ | 06/01/03 | From KING Staff and Wire Reports

[bedolido]

KENT, Wash. - Two young men died Sunday in an apparent murder-suicide in this south Seattle suburb, police said.

Police called to an apartment building found the gunshot victims inside. One, about 21, was dead of a gunshot wound to the neck. The other, 19 years old, died later Sunday morning at Harborview Medical Center of a gunshot wound to the head that was apparently self-inflicted, police spokesman Paul Petersen said.

Their names will not be released until Monday at the earliest, said a spokeswoman at the King County medical examiner's office.

Three other young men at the scene were temporarily detained.

Preliminary investigation determined that the five men -- 19 to 24 years old -- had spent the night drinking, arguing and playing cards, Petersen said.

At some point, the 19-year-old brought an assault rifle into the apartment and pointed it at the others. Then he put the gun away in his bedroom.

In the early morning, as two of the men slept, the 19-year-old retrieved the gun and began shooting, killing the 21-year-old as he slept. He fired at least two more rounds but did not injure the other person. “Two of the young men were sleeping and three of them were awake. He brought this rifle out and started shooting,” said Petersen.

He then turned the rifle on himself.

The 19-year-old was one of two residents of the apartment unit. The other resident was at the scene but not injured.

The three survivors were questioned and released.

[bedolido]

Aces and Eights

[billorites]

Now Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."

[MineralMan]

Busted flush alert.